Klondike! A Woman, a Frog, and the Gold That Rocked the World

On August 18, 1896, a nugget of gold plucked from a small northern creek ignited a frenzy for gold unlike any the world had ever known. The exact circumstances of the discovery remain a mystery, but one thing is for certain—Kate Carmack, first called Shaaw Tláa, played a pivotal role.

The Klondike discovery set off a chain of events that brought dramatic change to Alaska, the Yukon, and the entire Pacific Northwest. Wealth Woman, a new biography by Deb Vanasse, tells the story of the Klondike from the perspective of Kate Carmack, a Native woman who lost a fortune in gold but ultimately reclaimed her true wealth.

Deb Vanasse’s talks at the Klondike National Historical Park (Seattle, July 17, 1 pm and 4 pm) and the Seaside Library (August 18, 7 pm) commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Klondike discovery. She’ll discuss the recovery of previously marginalized voices in New American history, providing a fresh, new perspective on this epic event.